Department for Transport

Local Transport Update

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: My Right Honourable friend, the Secretary of State for Transport (Grant Shapps), has made the following Ministerial Statement.The Government and the Mayor of London have agreed a second extraordinary funding and financing package for Transport for London for the period to March 31 2021. It replaces the agreement signed in May. It will ensure the continued operation of public transport services in London and is proof of our commitment to supporting the capital and the transport network on which it depends.As with the national rail network, the Government will make up the revenue which TfL has lost due to the covid pandemic over the period. The new package comprises a central funding scenario of £1bn - made up of £905m grant funding and £95m borrowing - with flexibility for changing the grant payment in response to changing passenger demand. Actual payments are likely to be greater than £1bn because of the move to national covid restrictions.TfL continues to need substantial support due to the significant fall in revenue caused by covid-19. However, choices made in the preceding four years have made TfL less resilient to the impacts of the pandemic and this is why it is of vital importance that the Mayor brings forward plans to re-establish a trajectory to financial sustainability as soon as possible.As well as the conditions in the package agreed in May, the new agreement therefore sets out further measures to put TfL on a sustainable financial footing as soon as possible. Over the next six months, the Mayor will impose fare rises of RPI plus 1 per cent on all modes from January 2021; maintain the central London congestion charge at the hours and level to which it was increased in June; maintain the withdrawal of 60-65 Pass and 66+ Freedom Pass concessions in the morning peak; and make a further £160m in year savings, additional to those already planned, with the exception of active travel, which will remain as in the first half of the year. TfL will co-operate with a Government-led review of driverless trains. The two Government special representatives will continue to attend TfL Board and panel meetings. A new Government-led working-level oversight group will be created. By January 11 2021, TfL will produce a single, comprehensive management plan with options as to how a trajectory to financial sustainability by 2023 can be achieved.Any grant from Government to support London must be fair for UK taxpayers. If the Mayor wishes Londoners to continue to benefit from travel concessions and/or other benefits above those typically available elsewhere in England, he and TfL have recognised that the costs of these additional benefits will not be met by the Government; and that they will meet these costs themselves, without recourse to additional borrowing, savings, service changes or deferrals. TfL and the Mayor have proposed that this could be done by an increased council tax precept from April 2021. They will submit their proposals by 11 January 2021, alongside the fiscal sustainability plan. The Government will take all steps necessary at the appropriate times to enable this proposal.Extending the congestion charging zone to inner London has been ruled out by both the Government and the Mayor. National travel concessions including free travel to school for those who qualify under the 1996 Education Act will continue to be funded by the Government. The Freedom Pass for pensioners and the disabled will continue as now. It is not funded by TfL or the Mayor. The full agreement can be found on the gov.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transport-for-london-settlement-letter

Ministry of Defence

Director of Service Prosecutions

Baroness Goldie: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (The Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. Under section 364 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 the Director of Service Prosecutions is appointed by Her Majesty the Queen. The term of the current incumbent, Andrew Cayley QC, comes to an end on 2 November 2020. I can inform the House that Her Majesty has appointed Jonathan Rees QC to succeed Mr Cayley as the next independent Director of Service Prosecutions. Mr Rees has practised from chambers at 2 Hare Court since 2015, prosecuting and defending serious criminal allegations of murder, terrorism, sexual abuse and corruption. I should also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Mr Cayley who has served as Director for the last seven years and worked hard with other Service Justice System stakeholders to improve the processes by which cases are built and brought to trial, whilst maintaining the necessary independence of prosecutorial decision-making. His efforts have ensured that the Authority has retained its position as an independent and respected prosecuting body which has underpinned the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces. As he hands over his responsibilities to Mr Rees, I would like to express my personal gratitude for the important contribution he has made.

Defence Update

Baroness Goldie: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (The Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP) has made the follwing Written Ministerial Statement.In 1993 the Ministry of Defence (MOD) entered into a Government owned Contractor operated (GoCo) arrangement with Hunting-BRAE whereby Hunting-BRAE operated the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) on behalf of the Government. In 1999, following a competitive tender, a new 25-year contract was awarded to AWE Management Ltd (AWE ML).On the 1 July 2019 the MOD triggered the Successor Arrangements clause with AWE ML to enable it to consider alternative viable management options ahead of the current contract expiration. Although the existing arrangements have brought stability to the organisation the MOD has concluded that AWE will revert to a direct Government ownership model.Under the revised arrangements, AWE plc will become an Arms-Length Body wholly owned by the MOD. It will continue to be managed by a world leading team and a new Board will be appointed by the MOD. The new business model will see AWE plc continue to draw on private sector specialist support to strengthen capability as well as playing a key role in managing capital projects and contracts. This approach is recognised as best practice in other major complex programmes.The MOD, AWE ML and AWE plc will jointly manage the termination of the contract and the transition to the new arrangements, which are anticipated to be completed by the end of June 2021. This will be completed in close co-operation with workforce representatives, regulators, the supply chain and the local community.The continued safe and secure operation of AWE sites will remain the over-riding focus during the transition and under the revised management structure.

Northern Ireland Office

Regulations to implement the consent mechanism in the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol

Viscount Younger of Leckie: My Right Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Brandon Lewis) has today made the following statement:I am today laying before both Houses of Parliament a draft of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland (Democratic Consent Process) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 which will, if approved, reflect in domestic law the consent mechanism set out in the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol and the UK Government’s Unilateral Declaration of 17 October 2019. The consent mechanism ensures that Articles 5 to 10 of the Protocol will cease to apply if Northern Ireland’s political representatives conclude they are no longer desirable. The first consent process will take place in late 2024, and will be repeated every four or eight years depending on whether consent (if given) is given on a simple majority or a cross-community basis. Embedding that recognition of consent in the Protocol was intrinsic to its acceptance by this Government. The regulations implement both a default consent procedure, which will apply if a First Minister and deputy First Minister are in office at the time notification of the start of the process is given, and an alternative consent procedure, which will apply if a First Minister and deputy First Minister are not in office at the time notification of the start of the process is given. The alternative procedure enables any MLA to bring forward the consent motion in the absence of a First Minister and deputy First Minister. The Protocol was specifically designed to protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and the gains of the peace process. The principle of consent is central to it, ensuring that democratically elected local politicians make decisions for the people of Northern Ireland.

Department for International Trade

Negotiations on the UK’s Future Trading Relationship with the US: Update

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade (Liz Truss MP) has today made the following statement. The fifth UK-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiating round took place from 19 to 30 October 2020. This was the most intensive round of negotiations held so far, with 38 sessions covering 19 different chapter areas.Almost all chapter areas are now in the advanced stages of talks. A significant proportion of legal text has been agreed across multiple chapters.The round included focused discussions on market access for goods, including negotiations around product specific rules of origin, which determines whether or not a product can benefit from preferential tariffs under the FTA.We also held detailed textual discussions on a Digital chapter and agreed much of the legal framework for a future agreement.Following the significant progress made in talks to date, both sides are confident that we are on track for a comprehensive agreement which would provide a significant and mutual benefit to our economies. We believe we are in a good position to move forward after the U.S. election.We have agreed a programme for continued talks at official level for the weeks following the U.S. election.Below is a summary list of those workstreams discussed in the round:CompetitionCore TextCross Cutting ServicesCustoms and Trade FacilitationDigitalEnvironmentFinancial ServicesGood Regulatory Practice (GRP)InvestmentIntellectual PropertyMarket Access for GoodsRules of Origin and Origin ProceduresSanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS)Sectoral AnnexesServices Sectors – Professional Business, Transport and Delivery ServicesState Owned EnterprisesState to State Dispute SettlementTelecomsTrade Remedies